Knitting machine and method



y 1938- R. H. LAWSQN' ET'AL 2,123,284

' kunw'me MAORI-NE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 9. 1934 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 AQTHIIR/Y 62 00215155 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 JPOBRTHLAWJOM 1412mm A1. 6200]" R. H. LAWSON ET AL KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 July 12, 1938.

Filed Aug. 9, 1934 July 112, 1938. R. H. LAWSON AL 2,123,284

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 'Filed Au 9, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 FIG.

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y 1933- R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,123,284

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 9, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [/VVE/VTflIES: .PflBERT/{LAWSWZ [Bram/11620117153 BY T I ATTy.

y 38- R. H. LAWSON in AL 2,123,284

KNITTING MACHINE METHOD A 7210!? AZ 62 002mg 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 [NI/ENTflE-SI- EMERTHZAWS 01v Filed Aug. 9, 1934 TW' Arry.

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES MACHINE AND METHOD Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, and Arthur N. Cloutier, Lonsdale, R. I., assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 9, 1934, Serial No. 739,152

7 Claims. (oi. 66-48) This invention relates to knitting machines and more particularly to knitting machines of the type disclosed in the patent to. I-Iemphill 933,443, September 7, 1909, and to a means for knitting an improved and more closely fitting form of toe in a stocking.

In thev drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a knitting machine in front elevation showing the narrowing and widening picks and a pattern chain for timing the operations of the machine, other parts being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the pattern chain as well as a quadrant drive for'effecting reciprocatory movements of the needle cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the knitting machine shown in Fig. 1 showing mechanism for specially controlling the movements of the widen ing picks;

Fig. 3a is a detail view showing 'the widening picks and the wing cam;

Fig. '1 is a view'in rear elevation showing certain connections for controlling'the movements of the widening picks;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing an 0 auxiliary pattern chain and parts pertaining thereto;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a portion of the main pattern shaft and a drum thereon;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation show- 'ing a ratchet and means for advancing the said ratchet and auxiliary pattern chain;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. '7 but taken from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 9 is'a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the needles and picks just before the first widening pick acts upon the leading short butt or other needles theretofor elevated by a narrowing pick during the knitting of the first few courses of the toe; I

Fig. 10 is a View showing a stocking provided with one form of improved toe; I

Fig. 11 is a view of a pattern chain showing the relative disposition of plain and special links for effecting the knitting of the stocking toe disclosed in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view of another form of toe'less pointed than that shown in Fig. 10; v Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing an arrangement of pattern links to effect the knitting of the stocking 'toe disclosed in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view of a portion of a stocking having a toe similar to that in Fig. 10 but wherein theclosing of the toe is at the bottom of the foot of the stocking; and I Fig. 15 shows a portion of the stocking having a toe similar to that disclosed ill-1 Fig. 12 but wherein the toe is to be closed at the bottom of the foot as in Fig. 14.

The knitting machine i has mounted therein for rotary and recip'rocatory movements a needle cylinder 2 the needles being independently mounted in the slots of the cylinder and being controlled in their independent stitch forming movements by cams included in the cam block 3 and other cams mounted on. the cam ring 3. The usual or any desired form of latch ring t and sinker head 5 co-operate with the needles in the formation of stitches. Mounted upon the cam block in the usual manner are narrowing picks 6, 6' and positioned diametrically opposite thereto are widening picks l, I said widening picks being supported in a bracket 8 mounted upon the circular base plate of the machine.

For the purpose of knitting stockings in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described,'

a rod.9 is-mounted inbracket 8 to slide vertically therein. To the upper end of said rod 9 is fastened the usual butterfly cam ill, the wings of which, when the butterfly cam is elevated, permit the springs l I to maintain the widening picks l, i

in an operative position adjacent to the needle cylinder where they act upon butts of the needles to effect the widening of the heels and toes of stockings and also co-operate with the narrowing picks in a .manner hereinafter tobe more fully described to effect the knitting of the spe cially constructed stocking toes "shown in Figs.

'10, 12, 14 and 15. When the butterfly cam is moved to a relatively lowered position the widening picks I, l are maintained below and spaced from the needle butts in which position the said widening picks are inoperative.

cam It] includes a rod i2 which is attached to the cam ill at one end and to the rod 9 at its other end as by means of a set screw E3. The rod I2 is received within and guided vertically by a slot or opening M provided in the upper The connection (Figs. 3, 4) between the rod 9 and the butterfly means of av pawl 20. The pay/L28, as .more clearly shown in the relatively enlarged views of Figs. 5, 7 and 8, is pivotally connected to alever 2| which lever is in turn pivotallyfmounted upon a shaft 22 the latter being supportedinthe bracket IT. The lever 2| ispivotally corinected at one end as at 23to a link 24 which consists of two parts adjustably connected together as by means of screws 25 which pass through elongated slots 26 in one part of the link'24 and into threaded engagement with the other. The link 24 at its other end (Fig. 3) ispivotally connected as at 21 to a lever arm 28 rigidly mounted upon and carried by the quadrant shaft 29. During the knitting of'the heels and toes the quadrant 3|) (Figs. 2 and 4) is rocked once every two courses of knitting by means of a link 3| which link at one end is connected to a hub 32 extending laterally from the quadrant, the link at its other end being connected to a hub 33 mounted upon and forming part of one face of the 104 gear 34.

To' effect the knitting of the stocking toes disin which position the widening picks I, I act upon needles that have theretofore been elevated by the narrowing picks 6, 6', all for the purpose of knitting a more pointed toe than would be ordinarily knitted by having 'only .the narrowing picks 6, 6' in operative position during the knitting of the narrowed portion of the toe of the stocking. Furthermore, during the widening of the toe of the stocking the widening picks l, I are automatically and periodically rendered inactive, the rendering inoperative of the widening picks during the widening of a toe of the stocking being timed'so that the same needles, or needles adjacent thereto, as were acted upon by the widening picks during. the narrowing of the toe are not acted upon by the widening picks during the widening of the toe. V

The mechanism for controlling the widening picks in the manner stated in the immediately preceding paragraph includes an idler 35 (Figs.

3, 5, '7 and 8) which is connected to the pawl 20 by means of. a pin 36 the said idler having an arm 31 which projects over an additional and starting pawl 38 which is also pivotally mounted upon and movable with lever 2|. Adjustably passing through the arm 31 of the idler 36 is a screw 39 the end of which engages the upper surface of the pawl 38. Springs 4|! and 4| are each connected at one end to a pin or screw 42 carried by the lever 2| and at their other ends to pins 43 (Fig. '5) which are carried by the pawls 28 and 38 andact normally to urge the pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth l9.

During circular knitting a lever 44 (Figs. 3, 6 and 8) pivoted at 45 to the machine frame has a toe .46 in engagement with cams carried by a cam drum 41. -As reciprocating knitting for the toe of the stocking commences toe 46 of the lever 44 drops off one of the said cams whereupon a spring 41' contained within the bracket 8 lowers the butterfly cam III. The connections between the lever 44 and cam l9 include a link 48 pivotally connected at its upper end at 49 (Fig. 4) to a lever 56 which is pivoted air-6| to 9. lug 52 depending from the machine frame andat its other end I is provided with a shoe 53 with which the pin 9 is maintained in contact by means of the aforesaid spring 41'. w

Supplemental means including the pawls 28, 38 and supplementalchain are provided so 58 carried by a lever 59.

that, during the knitting of the toe, the widening pick cam ||l may be rendered inoperative from time to time. For this purpose a link 54 is connected to the link 48 by means of a pin or screw 55 passing through an elongated slot 56 provided in the link 54 andinto threaded engagement with the link 48. The pin and slot connection permits lost motion between the links 48 and 54. The lower end of the link 54 is provided with an elongated slot 51 through which passes a pin or screw The lever 59 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 60 to a bracket 6| attachcd to the machine frame as by screws 62 and is provided with a toe 63 adapted to be engaged by lugs carried by pattern chain l5 as hereinafter more specifically described. Also pivotally connected to the bracket 6| is alever 64 a hub 65 thereof being made fast to a shaft 66 by means of a set screw 61. The shaft 66 passes through the bracket 6| and through a bushing 69 connected to the bracket 6| as by screws 69. The bushing 68 and. bracket 6| provide a bearing for the shaft 66. One arm of the lever 64 is integral with the hub 65 and has pivotally connected theretoat II a link 12 in turn connected to a lever 13, by passing through a bushing 14 I carried by said lever, being retained in said bushing by a screw 15. The lever 13 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the machine frame at 16 and one arm thereof has a toe ll normally held in engagement with a drum 18 or cam 18 mounted thereon by the tension of a coil spring 19 connected at one end to the other arm of a lever 13 and at its other end to a pin or screw 80 carried by a plate or bracket 8| connected to the machine frame as by screws 82. The other arm 83 of the lever 64, which is a right angled continuation of shaft 66, projects in the direction of the pattern chain l5 and normally seated thereupon is a pin 84 connected to and laterally extending from a block or plate 85 fastened to the starting pawl 38 by screws 86.

The angle bracket I! which is connected to the machine as by bolts 81 includes an arm 88 which carries a hub 89 through which passes the shaft 22. The said shaft has a face 90, a set screw 9| passing through the hub 89 to engage the face 98 thereby preventing the shaft 22 from turning. Other screws 92 pass through the bracket l1 and engage one face of the ratchet wheel |8 thus preventing overthrow of the same when advanced by the pawls 20 and 38.

During the knitting of the leg and until the knitting of the toe is commenced the idler 35 carried by the pawl 20 is in engagement with a lug 93 carried by a link of the pattern chain I5 which lug holds the pawl 28 elevated and prevents the same from engaging the teeth I9 and advancing ratchet l8 although the pawl 20 is constantly reciprocated once every two courses throughout the knitting of the stocking.

As hereinbefore stated the'butterfly cam ||l withdraws the picks l, I from operative position when a cam such as 94 moves out from under the toe 46 of the lever 44. At the same time the cam 18 (Fig. 3) moves under the toe ll of the idler 35 drops off the lug 93 which permits the relatively high lugs 95" pawl 20 also to engage the ratchet teeth I9 and thereafter advance the pattern chain I5.

The two pawls 20 and 38 act .as one during theknitting of the bottom half or narrowing of the toe to advance the pattern chain once for every two courses of knitting throughout the knitting of the toe. At certain times in the knitting of the toe the, widening picks I, I are rendered ac- A spring 96 attached at one end to the pin or screw 58 and at its other end to a pin or screw 9'! together with the pin and slot connections between the lever 59 and the link 55, compensate for inequalities in the heights of the lugs 95". The spring 96 is much stronger than the spring contained within the pick block 8 and consequently when the toe 03 of the lever 59 is raised by a lug 95" the pins the upper portions of their respective slots 55, 51 notwithstanding the fact that the lever 50 at the same time, raises the butterfly cam I9 against the tension ofthe spring contained within the pick block 8. If a lug 95" is higher thannecessary -to elevate the widening picks to operative position the extra height'is taken up by the spring 96.

After desired number of courses have been knit with the toe 63 of the 1ever'59 resting on the lug 95" the next racking of the chain i5 moves the lug 95" from under the toe 63 oi the lever til thus permitting the said toe to drop ofithe lug 95" whereupon the spring 41' again'mo ves the.

cam I0 downwardly thus moving the picks l below the level of the inoperative needles. When the toe drops off the high lug 95" it first rests upon that portion of the special link 95 indicated at 95 thus avoiding the possibility of the picks I, I beingthrown down to such a position as to damage the butts moving along the knitting level which might occur if the toe 63 were permitted to drop immediately to its loweshposition. Subsequently to the knitting of a certain'number of courses with the picks I, I Linoperative, the lug 95" onthe following special link engages the toe 03 which elevates the butterfly cam I0 thus permitting the'springs I I to swing the widening picks 'I, 1 to an operative position at the level of the inactive needles. The cycle of operations just recited is repeated throughout the narrowing of the toe or a portion thereof depending upon the number of special links 95 on the chain I5.

As the point of the toe of the stocking is reached (the toe 11 of the lever I3 drops off the cam I8 whereupon spring I9 elevates the other arm 01! the lever and consequently rocks the lever arm 93 which by engaging the laterally extending pin 89 raises the starting pawl 38 to the idle position of Fig.1. Thereafter the pawl 20 alone racks the ratchet I8 throughout the knitting of the re maining. portion of the toe at the completion of which the chain lug 93 againengages the idler 35 and thereafter prevents the constantly reciprocating pawl 20 from racking the ratchet it until the starting pawl 38 again initiates movements of the pattern chain I5 as hereinbefore described.

Ordinarily during the knitting of the last half or widened portion of the toe, the narrowing picks 6, 5' continue in action to pick up one needle dill:

ing each half reciprocation and the. widening consequently per 55, 58 are maintained in' which time the lug WI on picks I, I pick down two needles each such halt reciprocation or course'while knitting the upper portion of the toe. However, to knit the toes disclosed in Figs. 10, 12, 14 and 15 the widening picks I, I', during widening, are, as hereinbeiore stated, periodically rendered inactive and to accomplish this purpose-special links 98, 99 are provided on the pattern chain I5. The links 98 I00 between adjacent links 98, 99 whereupon the spring 41 again raises the butterfly cam I0 to an inoperative position which movements permit the springs II to-render the widening picks I operative.

The special links 95, Fig. 11, and the relative the widening picks to be inoperative during widening on the same needles or' needles adjacent thereto as were acted upon by the said widening picks during the narrowing of the toe.

The relative arrangement, spacing and numlocation of the said links and recesses H00 causes her of special links 95.98.99 in a pattern chain depends upon :the form of toe desired, the chain I5, Fig. 11, effecting the knitting of the elongated toe disclosed in Fig. 12 while the arrangement of links 95, 99, 99 on the pattern chain it, Fig. 13, results in the somewhat shorter or less pointed toe shown in Fig. 12. The arrangements of links 95, 99, 99 shown in Figs. 11 and 13 are shown by way of example only, and other forms of toes may be knitted by the mechanism hereinbefore disclosed by suitably arranging special links and 98 onchain I5.

bpemtion of the machine The knitting machine operation is usual up to the beginning of theknitting of the toe at chain I02 rocks lever I03 which permits a pawl I04. to engage ratchet wheel I05 which advances the .main shalt I00 which carries the cams for controlling various operations of machine. The

advance of the shaft I06 causes the wheel or drum 4' I which is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 108 to advance thus causing the toe 46 of the the main. pattern lever .44 to drop off cam 94 at I01, Fig. 6. The

movement of the drum or disk .41 permits the spring 41' to lower the butterfly cam l0 thus swinging the widening picks I, 'I' to an'inoperative position where they remain during the rowing ofthe heel. At the beginning of the widening of the heel of the stocking a cam I08 engages the toe 46 and, by means of the 'connec tions hereinbefore described, permits the springs II to restore the picks 1, I to an operative position. Following the knitting of the heel the drum 41 is again advanced the toe 46 dropping off the cam I08 and resting in the space I09 and then being elevated by the cam M0 the toe remaining onthe cam H0 during the knitting of the foot. At the beginning of the narrowing of the toe of the stocking the toe M of the lever.

44 drops off the cam H0 at Iii where it remains throughout the knitting ofthe toe of the stocking, the spring 41' causing the toe 63 of the lever 59 to drop into engagement with the plain links IIZ. As the drum 41 is advanced to cause the 48 to drop on the cam IIO the cam I8 entoe gages toe 11 of the lever I3 which lowers the nar- lever arm I3 thus permitting the starting pawl 38 to drop into engagement with the ratchet wheel I9 thus initiating the advancing movement of the auxiliary chain l5 which during the knitting of the toe of the stocking controls the movements of the widening picks 1, 1'. Although the cam 18 may be of any length desired it must be of suflicient length to permit the starting pawl 38 to advance the ratchet wheel l8 and the chain l5 through a distance represented by three teeth l9 by which time the pawl 20 is clear of the pattern chain lug 93 and is in position to advance the ratchet wheel l8 and chain l5.

When the knitting of the toe is completed one or more plain links H2 permit pawl 20 to retime the pawl mechanism and chain l5, by continuing to advance the ratchet wheel l8 until the chain lug 93 again engages the idler 35 to idle the pawl 20.

The arrangement of links shown in- Fig. 11 eilects the knitting of the stocking toe H3 of the stocking I ll shown in Fig. 10. By re-arranging the links as indicated on the pattern chain 15' in Fig. 13 a less pointed-toe H5 shown in stocking Hi Fig. 12 is effected. The stocking H1 in Fig. 14 has a toe similar to that shown in Fig. excepting that the toe is closed at the bottom of the foot instead of the top as in Fig. 10; likewise the stocking H8 shown in Fig. l5 has a toe like that shown in Fig. 12 excepting that the toe is closed at the bottom of the foot.

Although as hereinbefore disclosed the widening picks I, l are specially controlled to effect the knitting of the stocking toes shown in Figs. l0, 12, 14. 15, the narrowing picks 6, 6 may be specially controlled or both the narrowing and widening picks may be specially controlled. Furthermore, the picks may acts upon jacks or other butts instead of on the butts of needles to effect the desired results.

Present day hosiery knitting machines frequently have two hundred or more needles alshows ninety needle butts only.

The several forms of narrow toe which have hereinbefore been described, provide a toe more nearly conforming to the contour of the human though for convenience of illustration Fig. 9

foot and consequently providing a more comfortable fit than is provided by toes of stockings knitted in' the usual manner.

Although in the foregoing description various parts and combinations thereof have been described in specific terms, it is not the intention to limit the appended claims otherwise than by express limitation in the claims themselves.

We claim:

1. A circular knitting machine having narrowing and widening picks for effecting the knitting of heels and toes of stockings during reciprocatory knitting, means for specially controlling the widening picks during the narrowing and widening of the toes to variably affect the knitting and wherein some of the needles operating during the knitting of heels and toes temporarily resume knitting after having been acted upon by the narrowing picks.

2. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having narrowing and widening picks, said narrowing picks being adapted to move needles designed to knit heels and toes of stockings to a nonknitting position, in combination with means acting upon the widening picks, during narrowing, temporarily to restore to the knitting position needles theretofore acted upon by the narrowing picks and acting upon the said widening picks, during widening, temporarily to render the widening picks ineffective.

3. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having narrowing and widening picks, said narrowing picks being adapted to move needles designed to knit heels and toes of stockings to a nonknitting position, and means for rendering widening picks temporarily operative during the'narrowing and inoperative during the widening of the toe.

4. A circular independent needle knitting machine having narrowing and widening picks, means for so acting upon the picks as to knit a relatively narrow pocket by reciprocatory knitting by occasion'ally interrupting the narrowing and by occasionally interrupting the widening, said means for interrupting the narrowing including the widening picks and said means for interrupting the widening also including the said widening picks.

5. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and narrowing and widening picks for knitting toe pockets of stockings, means for continuously operating the narrowing picks throughout the narrowing of the toe and means for occasionally causing the widening picks to render ineffective the operations of the narrowing picks, and means for causing the widening picks to function during the knitting of a plurality of successive courses while widening the toe and means for rendering the said widening picks ineffective during knitting of following reciprocatory courses for the toe.

6. A circular knitting machine having narrowing and widening picks, said narrowing picks being adapted to move needles to an inactive position and said widening picks being adapted and having means for controlling them to restore certain needles to knitting position during the knitting'of heels or toes of a stocking, and supplemental pattern mechanism for acting upon the widening picks to modify the action of said narrowing picks and to effect the knitting of a relatively pointed toe of a stocking.

'7. A method of knitting a toe pocket in a stocking by reciprocatory knitting, said method including the withdrawal of a needle during each successive course of knitting to narrow the fabric and in varying the said narrowing by interrupting the rate thereof by periodically returning to action needles which have been withdrawn, and

thereafter widening said fabric by returning needles to action during certain reciprocatory courses in the knitting, but not .at each successive reciprocatory course.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. I ARTHUR N. CLOU'I'IER. 

